Chapter 36 [Waiting Room—Smallville Medical Center—Two Hours Later]

Along with several other patients waiting to be seen by the doctors, Clark and Lana sat in the waiting room anxiously. They'd each pondered their respective conversations with Chloe not to mention the effect of keeping the Secret and dealing with their overall situation.

"It's going to be okay, Clark. You'll see," she reassured him from her wheelchair.

He rubbed her hand. "I know. She was really ticked off. I mean she can't expect the world to just stop because she wants it to, right?"

"No, Clark, she can't. She has to accept that we're together." She shrugged. "I just hope we can all remain friends afterwards."

"You and me both," he worried.

She smiled warmly. "Have faith, Clark." She kissed his cheek for emphasis. "Trust in that."

He gazed into her eyes and found their light to be invigorating. "I will." He brushed her lips with his. "It's going to be okay. We'll all have to talk. Meantime we got some help for the Torch. That exchange student, Jasmine Bey, signed up. She seems really cool."

She nodded. "That's great! Jasmine's really nice. We were in AP History together until…well…." She motioned to her legs. "She and Chloe did okay as well. She'll be a good addition to the paper. Say, Clark, you think Chloe would be up to me writing a journal about my recovery? Maybe it might be interesting."

"Can't see why not. I'd find it great reading," he assured her.

She rolled her eyes at him. "Nice use of the brownie points, Mr. Kent." She saw the receptionist coming over. "Think I'm up."

"I'll be right here waiting," he assured her.

"Mmm…you'd better be!" She grinned before turning to the nurse. "All set!"

The slender blonde smiled positively. "Super! The doctor's all set. Let's head in." She wheeled the patient into the offices beyond the dividing door disappearing within them.

Clark crossed his fingers. Just be okay, Lana. I couldn't stand if anything else happened! He pensively picked up a magazine and began reading it looking for something to burn the time away. Just then he felt the watched feeling from the high school's hallway again. He surveyed the room both regularly and with x-ray vision but came up with nothing to show for it. Might as well just accept that I'm being paranoid! He settled back in with the magazine…..

[Examination Room—25 minutes later]

Lana lay flat on her back in the doctor's exam room and wondered what would happen next. After changing into the patient's gown, she had endured the physician's poking and prodding. He'd sent her to Radiology for an x-ray. Now she waited for his prognosis. Is he going to make me wait more? I can't just lie around more and wait! She fumed at that particular thought….

She wanted to start proving herself. She had a café to run. She had schoolwork to catch up on. She needed to prove herself to her desired target in-laws.

Come on!

A minute later, her doctor came in and sat down with a professional-looking poker face. He scribbled a few notes on a piece of paper in a manila folder. Then he smiled at her. "Sorry about that, Miss Lang. I just wanted to finish writing everything up."

"That's okay, Dr. Brumsted. Anything new?" she wondered.

"Actually yes there is." He flicked a switch by a set of lighted panels turning them on. Then he slid three x-rays into place. "I'm going to show you these." He used his pencil as a pointer while explaining, "The fractures are starting to calcify. It's going to take at least another week and a half before you can stand on them long enough to do physical therapy. However, if you keep your braces on, you'll be able to sit normally in that recliner of yours. I'll let Miss Riley know that as well."

"How about school work and other activities? I know I can't move around. Maybe though I can sit with a laptop and do some written work? I was thinking about a column for the school newspaper or catching up on my missed work?" she supposed.

"If you can do it with the medication, absolutely. A busy mind helps the body I always say." He scribbled out a prescription and handed it to her. "I refilled your pain pills. Thank you, Miss Lang. I know it's hard to wait but I want you fit as a fiddle at the end. How's a week from Thursday at the same time work for you? My receptionist checked with your boyfriend. He was fine with it."

"If he is then so am I. Thanks, Doctor. I appreciate it," she expressed. "Can I have my clothes so I can change?"

"Of course. My nurse will be in to help you. Have a great day, Miss Lang. See you next week," he concluded. He set her clothes in a folded pile next to her.

"Another week. Great," she muttered to herself. Then she set about changing into her clothes.

The continued wait was still on….

[Ten minutes after that]

Clark set down his fourth magazine and stared at the clock. He gathered when the nurse asked him about the appointment that they were almost done…

…That had been over a half hour earlier…

Where is she? His mind spun over all sorts of potential situations. Could she have hurt herself worse? That can't be it! I'd have to ask Sandra but we did everything we could! Then he heard his cell phone ringing. He saw it was Lex calling him. "Hey, Lex! What's up?"

"How did Lana make out?" the billionaire queried.

"Don't know yet. She's still in there. It's not good when the doctor keeps you over," he presumed.

"Don't dream up trouble until we know for sure, Clark. Hey mind swinging by the mansion on your way home? I wanted to talk to you both about some things," Lex requested.

"That's fine. I'll let Mom know. I just need to get Lana's prescription refilled. Anything wrong?" he informed the other man.

"Nope. Tell you what. I'll call your Mom and let her know. See you in a few minutes. Thanks." With that, Lex hung up.

Wonder what's up with him? He hung up just as the nurse wheeled Lana out into the waiting room. "Everything okay?"

"I'm fine, Clark. Dr. Bumsted says I'm healing nicely. I'm ready to be out of here though," Lana reported.

"We can do that. Meantime we can get your script filled. Then Lex wanted to see us at the mansion," he noted.

"Your Mom's going to have dinner ready by 6. Hopefully that'll be okay?" she wondered.

"Would you mind texting her while we're riding? That would be great," he requested.

"Of course. Mind giving a girl a lift, Mr. Kent?" she queried expectantly.

Even if he knew he could do just that with the ease of lifting Styrofoam, he shrugged. "My pleasure." He pushed them both out the door and toward the elevator beyond.

One hurdle down. Now to see what Lex wanted…..